Thanks to Anastasia Dextrene and the CityNews Montreal team for the awesome collaboration on this important topic.
The “ABCD”‘s of SWIM SAFETY for Backyard Pools
- A – always watch your kids: active supervision, no distractions
- B – be able to swim: sign up for lessons year round, start as of 3 months
- C – checklist for securing your pool: permanent fence with self-closing and self-latching gate
- D – discuss the rules with your kids: write out the rules, post them visibly, and talk about them
OPEN WATER SWIM SAFETY (lakes, rivers boating)
- never swim alone
- wear a lifejacket
- no alcohol
STATISTICS – know the risks!
- 15% of drownings occur in backyard pools (mostly young kids
) - 67% of drownings occur in open water
- less than 1% of drownings occur in supervised areas (lifeguard present)
- 81% of drownings are young-middle aged men (the “risk takers”)
- 11 drownings so far this year, compared to 21 same time last year
Swim safely everyone 
View the full interview here.
